Authors(s) and Affiliation(s)

Abstract

In this study the total Holocene floodplain deposition was quantified for 3 contrasting catchments in Belgium, characterized by a different fluvial architecture and Holocene deposits thickness. Several methods were used to delineate the floodplain, and combined with different amounts of field data in Monte Carlo type simulations. The results show that the method used to delineate the floodplains is responsible for the largest uncertainties on the results, while the number of used field data has less influence. The results show that inter- and intra-catchment variability in floodplain deposition varies largely between the studied catchments. Based on the available data, spatial patterns of floodplain sediment storage can be explained by a combination of sediment delivery to the fluvial system and the sediment transport capacity of the fluvial system, which depends on floodplain slope and runoff discharge peaks